David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.
My
message focuses on the importance of striving in our daily lives to
actually receive the Holy Ghost. I pray for and invite the Spirit of the
Lord to instruct and edify each of us. UAdd a Note
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
In
December of 1839, while in Washington, D.C., to seek redress for the
wrongs done to the Missouri Saints, Joseph Smith and Elias Higbee wrote
to Hyrum Smith: “In our interview with the President [of the United
States], he interrogated us wherein we differed in our religion from the
other religions of the day. Brother Joseph said we differed in mode of
baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We
considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of
the Holy Ghost” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 97). UAdd a Note
The
Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead; He is a personage of
spirit and bears witness of all truth. In the scriptures the Holy Ghost
is referred to as the Comforter (see John 14:16–27; Moroni 8:26), a teacher (see John 14:26; D&C 50:14), and a revelator (see 2 Nephi 32:5).
Revelations from the Father and the Son are conveyed through the Holy
Ghost. He is the messenger for and the witness of the Father and the
Son. UAdd a Note
The
Holy Ghost is manifested to men and women on the earth both as the
power and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon a
person before baptism; it is the convincing witness that Jesus Christ is
our Savior and Redeemer. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, sincere
investigators can acquire a conviction of the truthfulness of the
Savior’s gospel, of the Book of Mormon, of the reality of the
Restoration, and of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. UAdd a Note
The
gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed only after proper and authorized
baptism and by the laying on of hands by those holding the Melchizedek
Priesthood. The Lord declared: UAdd a Note
“Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your
sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of
fire and of the Holy Ghost. … UAdd a Note
“And whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying
on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them”
(D&C 33:11, 15). UAdd a Note
The Apostle Paul made this practice clear to the Ephesians when he asked: UAdd a Note
“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto
him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance,
saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should
come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. UAdd a Note
“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them” (Acts 19:2–6).
Baptism
by immersion is “the introductory ordinance of the gospel, and must be
followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete” (Bible
Dictionary, “Baptism”). The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that “baptism
is a holy ordinance preparatory to the reception of the Holy Ghost; it
is the channel and key by which the Holy Ghost will be administered. The
Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, cannot be received
through the medium of any other principle than the principle of
righteousness” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 95–96). UAdd a Note
The
ordinance of confirming a new member of the Church and bestowing the
gift of the Holy Ghost is both simple and profound. Worthy Melchizedek
Priesthood holders place their hands upon the head of an individual and
call him or her by name. Then, by the authority of the holy priesthood
and in the name of the Savior, the individual is confirmed a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this important
phrase is uttered: “Receive the Holy Ghost.” UAdd a Note
The
simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance.
These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive
pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an
authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26).
The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because
hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are
spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and
ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that
we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts.
“For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he
receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given
unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33). UAdd a Note
What
should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the
companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let
me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy
Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3)
faithfully obey God’s commandments. UAdd a Note
Sincerely Desire
We
first should desire, yearn for, and seek the companionship of the Holy
Ghost. You and I can learn a great lesson about righteous desires from
the faithful disciples of the Master described in the Book of Mormon: UAdd a Note
“And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause
that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and
should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus. … UAdd a Note
“And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them” (3 Nephi 19:6, 9).
Do
we likewise remember to pray earnestly and consistently for that which
we should most desire, even the Holy Ghost? Or do we become distracted
by the cares of the world and the routine of daily living and take for
granted or even neglect this most valuable of all gifts? Receiving the
Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His
companionship in our lives. UAdd a Note
Appropriately Invite
We
more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we
appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or
command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with
the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us (see D&C 42:14). UAdd a Note
Our
invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways:
through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as
individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently;
through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and
friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and
by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church.
Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and
commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate
thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to
avoid us altogether. UAdd a Note
As
King Benjamin taught his people, “And now, I say unto you, my brethren,
that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye
should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye
do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no
place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed,
prospered, and preserved” (Mosiah 2:36). UAdd a Note
Faithfully Obey
Faithfully
obeying God’s commandments is essential to receiving the Holy Ghost. We
are reminded of this truth each week as we listen to the sacrament
prayers and worthily partake of the bread and water. As we pledge our
willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to always
remember Him, and to keep His commandments, we are promised that we may
always have His Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77).
Thus, everything the Savior’s gospel teaches us to do and become is
intended to bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. UAdd a Note
Consider
the reasons we pray and study the scriptures. Yes, we yearn to
communicate in prayer with Heavenly Father in the name of His Son. And
yes, we desire to obtain the light and knowledge available in the
standard works. But please remember that these holy habits primarily are
ways whereby we always remember Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son and
are prerequisites to the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost. UAdd a Note
Reflect
on the reasons we worship in the house of the Lord and in our Sabbath
meetings. Yes, we serve our kindred dead in the temple—and our families
and friends in the wards and branches in which we live. And yes, we
enjoy the righteous sociality we find among our brothers and sisters.
But we primarily gather together in unity to seek the blessings of and
instruction from the Holy Ghost. UAdd a Note
Praying,
studying, gathering, worshipping, serving, and obeying are not isolated
and independent items on a lengthy gospel checklist of things to do.
Rather, each of these righteous practices is an important element in an
overarching spiritual quest to fulfill the mandate to receive the Holy
Ghost. The commandments from God we obey and the inspired counsel from
Church leaders we follow principally focus upon obtaining the
companionship of the Spirit. Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and
activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy
Ghost in our lives. UAdd a Note
You
and I should strive to become like the stripling warriors described in
the Book of Mormon, who did “perform every word of command with
exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them.
… UAdd a Note
“…
And they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day;
yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his
commandments continually” (Alma 57:21; 58:40). UAdd a Note
Testimony
The
Lord has declared that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30). This restored Church is true because it is the Savior’s Church; He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
And it is a living church because of the workings and gifts of the Holy
Ghost. How blessed we are to live at a time when the priesthood is upon
the earth and we can receive the Holy Ghost. UAdd a Note
Several
years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to
President Brigham Young and shared this timeless counsel: “Tell the
people to be humble and faithful and [be] sure to keep the Spirit of the
Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the
small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it
will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their
hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them,
their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of
the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their
souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil
from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring
forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren
if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 98). UAdd a Note
I
pray we will sincerely desire and appropriately invite the Holy Ghost
into our daily lives. I also pray each of us will faithfully obey God’s
commandments and in reality receive the Holy Ghost. I promise the
blessings described by the Prophet Joseph Smith to Brigham Young are
applicable to and attainable by every individual who hears or reads this
message. UAdd a Note
I
bear witness of the living reality of the Father and the Son. I testify
the Holy Ghost is a revelator, a comforter, and the ultimate teacher
from whom we should learn. And I witness that the blessings and gifts of
the Spirit operate in the restored, in the true, and in the living
Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. I so testify in the sacred
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.*****************
Plainview Branch Elders & High Priest Lessons By Date:
11-14-10 : Chapter 21 Gospel Principles Manual "The Gift Of The Holy Ghost"
11-21-10 : Chapter 22 Gospel Principles Manual "The Gifts Of The Spirit"
11-28-10 : "That Our Children Might See The Face Of Our Savior" - By Cheryl C. Lant - April 2010
12-5-10 : "Only An Elder" - by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in 1974
12-12-10 : Chapter 23 Gospel Principles Manual "The Sacrament"
12-19-10 : Chapter 24 Gospel Principles Manual "The Sabbath Day"
12-26-10 : To Be Announced
No comments:
Post a Comment